O'Neill, Tour de Georgia officials injured in car accident

After recovering from being hit by a car while riding in Australia back in January, Health Net's Nathan O'Neill has had another car-related injury. While returning from a Tour de Georgia press conference with Tour de Georgia communications director Jackie Tyson and Judy Stanton of the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the trio were involved in a major highway accident that resulted in Tyson's SUV flipping over several times.

O'Neill was once again lucky to escape with lacerations to his left arm, requiring some 60 stitches, cuts to his face and a bump on his head, and was treated and released the same day. The two women were more seriously injured, and were transported by helicopter to an Atlanta hospital. Stanton is stable and recovering, while Tyson is in intensive care with extensive injuries and head trauma caused when the roof of the SUV collapsed.

O'Neill missed the Tour of California because of his January accident, and the latest wreck will mean that he will miss the Redlands Classic Race this month. He hopes to make his comeback in time for the Tour de Georgia in April.